"Takin' Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren by Skip Salmon

Thu Aug 25 13:39:12 EDT 2016

The N&W converted at least two locomotives to oil burners in December 1946 as the result of the second coal strike of the year.  The first started on April 1, 1946 and essentially lasted for 52 days.

A second strike was scheduled for Nov 20, 1946. On Nov 16 the government seized the nations supply. On Nov 18 the government ordered a 25% reduction in train passenger service operated by coal burning locomotives. The strike started on Nov 20.

On Nov 29 the N&W announced it was converting some of its locomotives from coal to oil to be able to continue rail service. By Nov 29 the N&W had discontinued 13 of its passenger runs, including the Powhatan Arrow, and taken over 50% of its locomotives out of service and stored them.

On Dec 3 the government ordered 25% of passenger service stopped on all railroads. Only essential freight was to be moved to save fuel. Parcel post packages were limited to 5 pounds at the height of the Christmas season.

Train No. 23, headed by oil-fired No. 107 pulled into Bluefield the night of Dec 4. The oil-burning K-1 was sent to Bluefield to power Trains 9 and 10 running between Bluefield and Williamson.

The second oil burner came out of the Roanoke shops on Dec 5, the same day the N&W announced it was cutting another 12 passenger trains from the schedule. The N&W noted it had several other engines in Roanoke being converted, but the actual number to be converted depending on the strike. By Dec 5 the N&W had laid about 3,000 employees.

On Dec 7 the N&W announced it was laying off another 1,450 employees. Two hours after the layoff announcement the strike was called off.

On Dec 9 the N&W announced:

“In view of our experience this year with the uncertainties of the coal supply and the implied threat of further trouble next sptring, the several engines converted to oil burners during the national coal strike will ne be reconverted to coal burners at this time. After making test runs of the various districts to determine where they can be used to the best advantage, the locomotives will be set aside for use in future emergency.”

You can read about the coal crisis of 1946 on pages 271-274 of my book “Coalwood,” which is available through the commissary.

Alex Schust

From: NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 8:35 AM
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Subject: "Takin' Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren by Skip Salmon

Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with five of the Brethren and Friends of the Virginian Railway.  We signed a Happy Birthday card for Frank Breedlove, VGN Yard Conductor.  Frank is famous for having a conversation with an FBI agent in South Yard during WWII and turned 83 on Tuesday.

 Attending with us last was my middle son Stephen.  He follows these reports and brought a small pocket watch to show for my "Jewel from the Past" segment.  Last night was one year since his wife Cassie passed away from cancer.  Stephen bought the Elgin for her and said she would place it under her pillow when he was away on business and the ticking would help her go to sleep.  Several months after her passing, he discovered that the watch had stopped at the exact time of her passing.

 The Jewel from the Past like those in an Elgin 13 jewel 1890 with a bold red dot porcelain dial, lever set 14K is from 4-16-09: ''Wis Sowder brought for Show and Tell a notebook that Jimmy Whittaker made and gave him on his retirement day.  This book contained his employee records started with his full name:  Wister Cornealous Sowder and included his VGN Application for employment as a Caller, Bulletins of all of the jobs he bid, as well as the Bulletin of his 'position  to be vacated'.  On the last page was listed all of his sick days taken (very few) with a note saying 'Poor guy became seriously ill with the thought of leaving this fine company'".

 For Show and Tell I took my latest ebay purchase "Victoria: Then and Now" a centennial book about the first 100 years of the town created by the VGN for a half way point between Roanoke and Sewells Point.  Page 57 has a photo of VGN Superintendent's Office 11-9-59 showing John Fox, J. P. Strickland and R. R. McDaniel. This book has a fine history of the beginning of the VGN and would be a great addition to any VGN library.  I dropped it off at R. R. McDaniel's home after the meeting for him to peruse.

 Also for Show and Tell I took the Fall 2016 "Classic Trains" magazine.  Page 8 has a photo that some of you may find very interesting.  It shows N&W K1 #107 on the turntable at Shaffers Crossing in 1946 (obviously with an oil tender) with the caption "N&W converted four K1's to oil to show miners (on strike) what could happen, if coal became unavailable.  Gordon Hamilton said that "they probably only converted the one to oil before the strike was over". I also took an NS photo of AC44C6M #4004 DC to AC new paint scheme with the horse's mane painted blue, to signify the unit was converted at Juniata Shop in Altoona, PA.  Eddie Mooneyham said he thinks there are two of these units being converted in Roanoke Shop at this time. Wonder if these will get the blue mane also???

 Eddie Mooneyham presented us a nice insulator set he was given by AEP when he was preparing the SW1000 switcher for shipment to Roanoke (donated by AEP to the Roanoke Chapter NRHS).  This insulator was part of the VGN overhead electrification to allow coal to be spotted in the plant.  It is from the track that still has the old VGN thawing plant in place at the AEP Glen Lyn facility that is being taken out of commission.  Eddie presented the insulator to former VGN Clerk Wis Sowder for use in the restored VGN Station in Roanoke.  I have posted a photo on this site of the presentation under "Skip's Photos".

 Then there's this:  An old fellow was talking to one of his friends about how he would like to 'leave this world' and said that he would "like to die like his grandfather did...in his sleep.  Unlike the passengers in his car".

 Time to pull the pin on  this one!

 Departing Now from V248,

 Skip Salmon

 DCXVII
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